Goring by Sea is a quaint suburb of Worthing, nestled to the west. It has stretches of beautiful and ordinarily quiet pebbled beaches. There are plenty of things to do in Goring by Sea.

Goring by Sea is a beautiful place to visit, or to live if you are considering moving here.

Once dubbed as a retirement paradise, it has since shifted and is more lively with many young families choosing to live here to enjoy a tranquil life by the sea.

Goring by Sea has plenty to see and do and is just a stone’s throw from Worthing Town Centre and 40 minutes by train to Brighton.

There are ample pubs, cafes, restaurants and local shops.

What is Goring by Sea like?

Goring By Sea offers those who enjoy the outdoors the perfect lifestyle or day out. It is a lovely seaside town with a laid-back vibe.

The high street has all the necessary amenities and it is well linked to Worthing Town Centre, Brighton and even London.

Goring by Sea is that classic postcard seaside town with picturesque beach huts and you will often spot people enjoying water sports.

Goring by Sea is a lovely place to raise a family. It tends to get slightly busier in the summer due to people flocking to the seaside, however, there is plenty of green space and beach for people to enjoy.

Things To Do in Goring By Sea

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Goring Gap – Things to do in Goring by Sea

Goring Gap, located in Goring-by-Sea is a picturesque coastal stretch offering expansive views of the English Channel. This serene spot is characterized by its wide pebble beach flanked by grassy areas, making it ideal for picnics and strolls.

It’s a great place to explore due to its tranquil environment, opportunities for bird watching, and easy access to watersports. Coming here is one of our favourite things to do in Goring by Sea.

The woods are a beautiful spot to bring the kids. There are lots of winding paths, interesting trees and tree tunnels.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for a variety of wildlife from woodpeckers to wild mushrooms.

The uninterrupted views of the horizon and the soothing sound of waves provide a perfect escape into nature.

Additionally, Goring Gap’s accessibility and family-friendly atmosphere make it a welcoming destination for all visitors. This is a great spot to walk the dogs also.

Goring Gap is a popular spot in the summer, with many families and friends gathering to enjoy the outdoors.

The grassy area gives way to many propping up a gazebo or setting up a picnic blanket to spend the day here, with the trees offering shade on a hot day.

Our then 3-year-old had a fabulous birthday here one year with many friends joining us from London.

There are public toilets here also.

Highdown Gardens – Things to do in Goring by Sea

Just a short drive from Goring By Sea is Highdown Gardens. These are beautifully kept and make a lovely day out.

Highdown Gardens is a stunning, tranquil oasis perched atop the South Downs, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

These beautiful gardens are renowned for their rare collection of plants and trees, many of which are unlikely to be found elsewhere in Britain.

Visitors are drawn to Highdown Gardens for its peaceful walks, vibrant seasonal blooms, and the historical significance of its plant collection.

The gardens also offer educational tours and workshops, making it an ideal destination for horticulture enthusiasts and families alike.

The serene environment and picturesque setting make it a perfect spot for relaxation and inspiration.

I love their offer of mats and nature-inspired books to sit and enjoy with little ones in the gardens.

Walking – Things to do in Goring by Sea

Goring by Sea is a great place to walk from. You can walk to Worthing Town Centre in under an hour by heading East.

The promenade down to the main area of town, by Worthing Pier, is wide and mostly flat making it an accessible route. Worthing to Goring by Sea makes for a nice leisurely walk with beautiful views of the beach.

If preferred, you could walk west to Ferring. There is a great little cafe called the Bluebird Cafe serving a range of food, hot drinks, smoothies and cakes.

Swim – Things to do in Goring by Sea

The shoreline is dictated by low and high tide at Goring by Sea. The best time to swim is ordinarily 2 hours on either side of high tide.

It is always safest to swim with a buddy or a spotter.

You can check Goring tide times here.

Due to Goring by Sea being largely a shingle and rocky beach, beach shoes are advised to prevent discomfort when getting in for a dip.

Watersports – Things to do in Goring by Sea

Watersports are some of the top things to do in Goring by Sea. Whether you fancy a wild swim or a paddleboard, the sea is your oyster!

Glo Wellbeing offers stand-up paddleboard (SUP) lessons, board and kayak hire and accredited BSUPA school in Levels One and Two.

GloWellbeing is running just one groyne west of Sea Lane cafe, working with the seasons from March to the end of October.

Worthing Sail Club is located in Goring by Sea. It is a non-profit amateur sail club aiming to promote sailing within the local community. Keep your eyes peeled for the regular events.

Sauna – Things to do in Goring by Sea

The same company that runs GloWellbeing are launching a glorious beachside sauna. Indulge in the thermotherapy with this wood-fired sauna house in a converted horse box.

Cool down from the sauna, tide depending on the sea and alternate for optimum dopamine hit!

Changing robes, sauna hats and large buckets for personal belongings are available.

There are a range of booking options including a community sauna which is more affordable (30 mins (£8 pp) and 1 hour (£15 pp) – this is a great way to meet interesting people!

GloSauna is also available for private bookings – 30 mins (£40) and 1 hour (£75).

Coastal saunas are cropping up along the Sussex Coast and it is no surprise given the health and wellness benefits from them.

Kitesurfing – Things to do in Goring by Sea

Not for the faint-hearted, but certainly a good spot for kitesurfing. Kitesurfing at Goring by Sea is recommended for advanced riders only.

This is due to the minimal landing space, large shore dump and big swell.

It is advised to kitesurf at high tide only, as low tide exposes the rocky bed and the water will be very shallow.

The best time to kitesurf at Goring is ordinarily two hours on either side of high tide.

There is a Facebook group for local kitesurfers called the Goring Kiters.

Sistine Chapel Cieling

Far-flung from Rome, in Goring by Sea at the English Martyrs Church is a replica of the intricate paintings of the Sistine Chapel.

This was completed by local artist Gary Beaver in 1987. It expands to around two-thirds of the original artwork. This makes for an interesting thing to do in Goring by Sea.

My boy who is a budding artist enjoyed a trip here.

Eat and Drink – Things to do in Goring by Sea

Goring by Sea has some delicious establishments to dine out. Whether you are looking for brunch, coffee or some special evening meals, there is plenty to choose from.

Restaurants in Goring by Sea

Jonnys

Jonnys is a great spot that serves drinks, coffee, cake and hot food. The service here is always great and there is ample space to dine.

Spice I Am

Spice I Am is a fine-dining Thai establishment with a focus on fresh ingredients and mouth-watering flavours.

Eating at Spice I Am is one of my favourite things to do in Goring by Sea. The service here is excellent and the menu is to die for. There are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options too.

Shafiques

Shafiques offers modern Indian cuisine with plenty of the usual Indian/Bengali dishes. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, however, it tends to get busy so booking ahead is advised.

Sealane Cafe

Sealane Cafe is another great meeting spot with delicious food. They serve decent portions of deliciously made fresh food. All with beautiful views of the sea.

This is a good option to stop for tea, coffee and cake also. It is an easy spot to spend several hours, especially on a nice day.

My children enjoy playing on the beach here, whether low or high tide, and we will sometimes have lunch at Sealane Cafe, Goring by Sea.

Bird and Blend

Brighton’s famous tea store, Bird and Blend has its warehouse located in Goring Business Park. Bird and Blend have also set up a lovely cafe serving a range of their fantastic, flavoursome teas, toasties and pastries.

Some of the gorgeous flavour teas include Sticky Chai, Strawberry Lemonade and Matcha Teas.

Bird and Blend also do a range of fantastic gifts.

Highdown Hotel

The Highdown Hotel has a delightful bar and restaurant with delicious food. It has a lovely atmosphere and the menu often rotates, with locally sourced and fresh ingredients.

We have only had positive experiences here and the service is great.

Pubs in Goring by Sea

Elephant in the Room

Elephant in the Room is an intimate bar serving a selection of wines, beers and spirits. This micro-pub offers a selection of local brews on rotation.

The Bulls Head

This is a warm and welcoming country pub and restaurant in Goring by Sea. It offers all of the pub classics and seasonal dishes additionally.

The original beams and fireplaces date back to 1600 making it an interesting place to visit for a drink or food. There is even some local folkore that the pub is haunted by four ghosts, as it used to be a mortuary.

Dog walkers and beachgoers frequent this pub and it is a real community hub. A nice beer garden out the back allows you to enjoy your drink in the sun (when it is sunny, that is!)

The Mulberry

The Mulberry Pub has an extensive “pub grub” menu, offering everything from pub classics to nachos, wings, burgers and vegan options.

This pub plays football often additionally and is a local haunt for drinks.

Shopping in Goring by Sea

Goring by Sea has a high street with the usual amenities and shops. It has a great selection of second-hand shops which are always good for a mooch.

Goring does have some unique, niche shops additionally. Retro by Ronnie sells everything nostalgic – from vintage collectables to nineties-style gameboys.

This shop runs a lovely Santa experience for families at Christmas and fun, charitable events throughout the year. Keep an eye out for the Sussex Ghostbusters!

The Sussex Astronomy Centre offers affordable stargazing equipment. From telescopes, binoculars and accessories. The staff here are super helpful and can offer advice to beginners.

It is always great to support local, independent businesses.

How to get to Goring By Sea

Train

Goring By Sea has a train station, Goring is also accessible by Durrington on Sea. Trains to Goring by Sea take about 40 minutes from Brighton and 90 minutes from London, depending on delays.

Bus

Goring by Sea is well-serviced by local buses. Namely the number 700 coast liner which drives all the way to Brighton.

Drive

Goring has plenty of free parking to offer, it is free to park along Goring Gap and many of the residential roads have on-street parking.

Weather Goring by Sea

Of course, it is hard to predict British weather. Being on the South Coast, Goring has the benefit of warm summers.

Goring by Sea can be enjoyed whatever the weather, even in the rain the woods are great for a walk.

You can keep up to date with Goring’s weather here.

Overall, Goring by Sea has plenty of things to do. It is ordinarily a quiet town with all of the amenities needed to live a peaceful life.

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